Earnings From Learning for EFL/ESL Educators: The More You Learn, The More You Earn

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On October 17th, 2010 the Moveable Feast conference was held at Osaka Gakuin University, where the main theme was teacher development, and what we, as educators, could benefit from learning. After first hearing about the conference, I started to realize that the more that I learned, the more that I earned (and, as I continue, it continues). Both learning and earning can be categorized in several ways, and the benefits are rather obvious to those who pursue that type of philosophy.

When most people thing of ‘earning’, with respect to employment at least, the concept of monetary remuneration comes to mind. While this is true in many instances, earning can be much more broadly defined. As an example: earning as defined by The Farlex Dictionary is to ‘1. To gain especially for the performance of service, labor, or work: earned money by mowing lawns. 2. To acquire or deserve as a result of effort or action: She earned a reputation as a hard worker. 3. To yield as return or profit: a savings account that earns interest on deposited funds‘ (Earn). When we, as educators embark on learning in its various forms, the rewards will most likely include the first definition, but will by no means be limited to that definition. The other defined earnings can be very valuable and important as well.

While earning can come in more than one form, learning can come in numerous forms, so for explanatory purposes, three are utilized here( though they can and do overlap): Formal learning is defined as formal learning and study with the end goal of degrees, diplomas or certificates; semi-formal learning includes taking classes, attending and giving seminars as well as at conferences; and informal learning is learning that is done on one’s own through actions such as reading, discussions and media.

Formal Learning

The most obvious one and the one that tends to have the most profitable financial results, at least at the beginning (of course, once you get too far, it has the potential of diminishing monetary results later). As most people are aware, the more education one achieves, the better the salary at least in theory ( there is a very familiar quote that states that an average college grad will make one million dollars more than the average high school graduate-but that has been disproven by research, such as from Inside Higher Ed). However, there is a definite increase that can be earned with better education.

The wage increases can and do continue into graduate studies. An excellent case in point is the difference in pay in EFL in Japan from (at least average) English conversation teachers (where a bachelor’s degree is the norm) versus university work (where, at least, a master’s is the norm). But, there are the other ‘earnings’, which include deeper knowledge of the topic (particularly with, but not exclusively with respect to content bases instruction CBI), better understanding of various university systems, research methodologies and academic writing to name a few.

Options available to educators who want to expand into other areas are numerous and include online as well as in traditional class programs. As far as the latter, traditional degree programs are available to Japan based educators. Temple University in Osaka and Tokyo as well as Columbia Teachers College (in Tokyo only) are two large American universities with that option. The in class options not only extend to them. For example, I have an American friend currently in a PhD Program at a Japanese university (Kansai University). So, keep the Japanese university option in mind as well, if considering a traditional degree. Aside from degrees, there are CELTA programmes that are run out of Kobe. As for non-traditional ways of studying, there are numerous options available and those options are growing all the time. The best advice I ever had was to find an area that really interests me, then research it and choose the best place that I can afford to apply to.

There are numerous benefits to this type of education. As a personal example: One side benefit of completing an MBA was that it gave me the added advantage of having experience writing a dissertation with the standard dissertations to it. By the time I complete the degree, I had a deeper background in research methodologies through taking classes in the subject, and then through writing the dissertation. Because of that, I am better equipped to guide students through their 4th year thesis and to advise on some of the options that they have available to them.

Earnings

As most people who have completed a master’s degree (at least) will contend, the monetary payoff can be immediate and long lasting. Personally, I know that when I completed my master’s of education, it had paid for itself in increased remuneration within two years. Even the MBA (which was expensive) is paying for itself in money terms, but has already paid off in non-monetary earnings with better understanding of the materials I’m teaching and more enthusiasm through teaching classes I want to teach (business and economics). This is, however, a very personal example, and there are other numerous fields one can pursue. The best advice I’ve ever come across is, “do what you love and the money will follow”. (Aaron, 1997)

It is safe to say that through formal studying, we become more knowledgeable and we become better teachers. This is because of any number of ways, including: learning teaching theory, being forced ourselves to give presentations, (after all, being critiqued and peer reviewed raises the self awareness that we all have towards pedagogical approaches to the classroom). In addition, our critical thinking and study skills improve through being involved in formal classroom settings.

Semi-formal Learning

Self improvement and learning is not limited to formal learning, going to conferences, attending seminars and taking classes are excellent ways to improve and increase earning power. While it may not seem as serious a route as formal learning and the earning power seems to be more leaning towards non-monetary gains, there are a number of things that can be learned, comprising skills along with knowledge. Keep in mind that I know of several people on hiring committees who were inclined not to hire non-JALT members who were applying for work. Also, conferences (particularly international ones) may have the effect of raising an application to the top of a hiring committee. Aside from that, there are almost always useful ideas that can be gained from attending conferences. Finally, it is a chance to interact with others and (in the case of education oriented conferences) keep up to date with the advances within the discipline.

Not to discount the monetary earning potential with semi-formal learning, there are networking opportunities, rarely found elsewhere in such abundance. This connects with the other side of earning which is non-monetary. This includes keeping up with new trends, and finding that we are not the only ones in the situations we find ourselves in. Confidence tends to build in most who find out that they are not alone. As one participant stated during a final Q&A session, “once the door is closed, it is a lonely profession”, and finding peers to share with is an excellent way of coping.

Informal Learning

While this broad category may overlap in some ways with the semi-formal, there are a number of things that differentiate it, and make it and make it valuable. With respect to the earning potential as far as money is concerned, it is seemingly the weakest, although, I do know of several cases where teachers are hired because of the specialized knowledge that they acquired through informal learning. The best examples are in IT, but I have also seen it with film studies and geo-politics. As an example of the latter, I do know of one British teacher who is teaching in a lecturer position at a university without a graduate degree due to his acting experience.

The area of learning includes, watching TV news, reading books, experiences and discussions (among others). The biggest payoff might be with the better and more knowledgeable classes that the instructor can provide. Recently, at Konan University’s ‘Peccha Kucha’ night, there was an excellent presentation from one university teacher who uses Dungeons and Dragons in his classes to teach. That, I believe, shows that if the teacher is enthusiastic, knowledgeable and passionate about the topic, it can easily translate into a good and worthwhile class.

As an example of informal learning, I was introduced to the concept of Peak Oil, and I started reading up on the concepts of oil as well as world population, and the idea that sustainable growth might be an oxymoron. As a result, I’ve developed several lesson plans on the exponential rule of 72, world population growth and peak oil. I’ve used these materials in classes that were first, second, and third year university classes as well as a corporate class. I have also given several presentations on these concepts at several venues.

Several years ago, I was given a book on outsourcing (for personal as well as business work) and read it through looking for materials for homework assignment for an MBA course. I was unable to use it in my course, and I thought it was not very useful for me as an English instructor in Japan. However, while preparing original materials for classes, I was reluctant to photocopy from other text books. So, I went to a website that was on the book ( www.odesk.com ) and outsourced a number of drawings to the Philippines where it cost me less than $100 to get 12 illustrations (including the one above that I use for ‘homework’ with my original materials).

One way for educators to keep a record, as well as using it as a tool for self development, is the academic CV (curriculum vitae). An academic CV is different from a resume in several ways as an academic CV is a complete record of your academic work, without descriptive adjectives, with three main areas, research, teaching and service. In other words, just the facts. Being a complete record, in can become quite long sometimes going 20 or 30 pages. Listed is a brief overview of differences between a resume and an academic CV.

· ACADEMIC CV

RESUME

· Long

1 or 2 Page(s)

· Just the facts

Power sales tool

· Details of all academic work

Broad strokes of abilities

· Standard/Unchanged

Tailored to the job application

While the academic CV may or may not be used as an employment tool, it can be a very valuable asset (though a suggestion would be to add a 1-page resume if adding it to a teaching job application). Because there are few hard and fast rules for academic CVs, a suggestion might be to start with the name, address and then education (starting with the highest obtained, then moving down) and then student activities. This is followed by publications, presentations and then chronology of work (academic only) with all classes listed by academic year starting with the most recent. Next, include student advising, class projects, and memberships.

Because of the lack of set rules for the academic CV, adjustments can be made to the CV. As an example, if your publications are weak, then abbreviated abstracts can be included after the title of the publication. If, on the other hand there are a number of publications that you have, use of APA might be a more appropriate approach. Even if this document is not for employment, it can be a very powerful tool in assessing where one’s strengths and weaknesses are with respect to one’s career. The academic CV can become a flexible record that is more a living document that is added to as achievements are made.

From the employer’s perspective, reasons why an academic CV can be very useful include the professionalization of the EFL industry, changes in the job market, fewer jobs with more competition, and a stronger acceptance of their use by hiring committees. And from the personal side, the CV can be utilized as a scorecard that helps with career decision making (see below), it is a complete record of what one has done professionally and it allows the educator to have a ‘hidden agenda’ where extra work might be performed if it enhances the CV. As Tom Peters stated: “Ask yourself the following. In the last 90 days, what have I done to improve my resume?” He goes on to challenge the reader to complete the sentence “My Principal ‘resume (CV) enhancement activity’ for 90 days is…”And ‘The next year…'”(Peters, 1999)

One suggestion is to introspectively look at our careers through a balance scorecard with the CV as a centre of reflection. By doing so, it is easy to see the strengths and weaknesses that all of us have.

The balanced scorecard was something I adopted and reconfigured from a corporate strategy tool, which is used as a performance management device (Merchant & Van der Stede, 2007). It has been adapted to an academic CV so that educators might want to consider where their strengths and weaknesses lie. While not all areas are covered, the large amount of information from an academic CV is found in the four areas and shows how it balances. The only one major area that might be missing for people in Japan would be their Japanese language ability.

References

Aaron, R. ( 1997). Bloom Where You Are Planted. Toronto: Raymond Aaron Group

Earn. (n.d). In The Free Dictionary byFarlex.

Lakin, T. (2010, September 15). College sports can change your life. Retrieved from rise.espn.go.com/all-sports/articles/Recruiting/college-sports-benefits.aspx

Leaderman, D. (2008, April 7). College isn’t worth a million dollars. Retrieved from http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/04/07/miller

Merchant, K. & Van der Stede, W.A. (2007). Management Control Systems. Harlow, Essex. Financial Times/Prentice Hall.

Peters, T. (1999). The Brand New 50. New York, NY: Random House.

Choosing the Right School for Your Family

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I am often asked for recommendations on how to assist parents who are the process of evaluating middle schools for their kids. The following may help parents with one of the most important decisions they will ever make for their kids.

Your kids deserve it – do the work!

#1 Spend time in the actual classroom where you child is going to be placed. Be certain you are observing the teacher who will be teaching your children.

Take in the interaction between the kids, the teacher and the kids, the lesson of the day and how well it is accomplished. The most important thing to watch for is the level of enthusiasm, participation, openness, inquisitiveness, creativity and how well the kids relate to the teacher and the relevancy of the class. Is it a learning environment involving all the kids? In 17 years of teaching I had parents in my classroom numerous times. If a teacher, principal or administrator does not want you to observe classes on your schedule it is the wrong school for you and your kids.

#2 Hang around a bit watching how the kids treat each other in the halls, lunchroom and at recess. This will give you terrific insight into what they are learning about self respect, acceptances, empathy, consideration, friendship, courtesy – all the things you really want for your child.

#3 Attend curriculum meetings asking questions about why such and such is included or why such and such are excluded. Many schools are slow to incorporate views of history and accompanying literature from the countries many of their students come from. Look at the textbooks before the meetings preparing yourself to ask why about whatever topic concerns you.

#4 Does the school have a Librarian who is educational certified, enthusiastic and financially supported by the school in support of your child? A good school librarian is one of the most important people in your child’s academic career. If the school doesn’t have a vibrant library go look at another school. Period!

#5 Are the teachers happy? Are they being paid a competitive wage and offered fair benefit packages? Ask. If they are not, your children will suffer the consequences. It is certainly within your right as a potential customer to investigate salaries, benefits, educational levels, and teacher accomplishments in their career field in order to evaluate their professionalism and administrative support. By visiting classrooms, on a random basis, you will get the feel for which teachers are still in the game and which are just pulling the lessons off the shelf.

#6 Are there bilingual teachers? What language competencies do they have? Does the school offer ESL and small group tutoring? Who are the ESL instructors? What are their educational and experience backgrounds? Who are the tutors? Are they qualified, credentialed and competent? Are there reading specialists at the school or available for testing and consultations?

#7 Are there laptops, iPads, or a computer lab, with curriculum and qualified instructor, to allow your child all the advantages that technology is offering. Does the school promote programs like the Khan Institute etc as adjuncts to the curriculum? How is technology incorporated within the curriculum, homework, syllabus and expectations?

Who is teaching music, art, PE? Are they qualified?

#8 Understand how teachers generate grades. Understand the requirements and expectations of the school and particular teachers. Ask for narrative reviews of your child in addition to a letter or numeric grade. Avoid being an overlord if the school offers grades online, as it works best if you have a conversation with your child rather than looking over their shoulder every moment. Some of the most prestigious schools in the country refuse to offer online grades as they feel it hampers the parent-child relationship with grades being viewed disproportionally to the overall success in a child’s school career.

#9 If you are looking at a religious school investigate if that schools emphasis on its dogma is similar to yours. Have the teachers met the requirements established by the church, temple, and mosque to teach religion? A number of organizations have specific educational requirements for its teachers before they can teach religion. Ask to see the certifications. If you are going to pay thousands a year for a religious based school you need to do your homework and not hope they are delivering, as many times they are not-

#10 Look at comparisons and rankings of schools in your neighborhood. There are plenty of objective sources, though few will tell you how kids did when they graduated 8th grade. Find out where most of the kids go to high school and contact that school asking how the kids do at the high school. Go to that school and talk with counselors, teachers and the principal. Look at test scores. They can be baffling so get some help with understanding what they are telling you about your child and their ranking locally, regionally and nationally.

Kids are not test scores – let them be kids with your guidance, counsel and love….

Did You Lose Your Job? Get Paid For Writing and Get Out of the Unemployment Slump

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Losing your job is one of the most painful experiences you’ll ever have. For some, losing a job ranks up there with getting in a car accident. It’s traumatic, it’s stressful and it takes a long time to find a new job and recoup your lost income. If you have dependents reliant upon you for their food, shelter, clothing and entertainment, being jobless is even more difficult. The good news is, you can get paid for writing while you look for another job.

Paid writing opportunities are more abundant than you might realize. The online world is much different than brick and mortar businesses. Where business establishments are laying off workers and cutting pay, online publishers are always hiring content producers and freelance writers by the hundreds.

Even if you don’t have previous writing experience, you can get paid for writing. Some companies pay you to write articles on virtually any topic you desire. You don’t have to be an expert in any field – knowing a little bit about something is enough to get paid for writing about it and telling other people how to do it.

Get paid to write and supplement your income with several hundred dollars a month or more. Some freelance writers, like myself, make more than $1500 per month writing (no joke!) and that’s only a part-time figure. Think of how much you could make working full time as a freelance writer! If you’re jobless and are sitting at home anyway, put your time to good use by writing for money.

Where should you look to get paid writing? For starters, never apply to write for a company that makes you pay to apply. These are outright scams. Reputable companies offer 100 percent free applications.

You might be wondering how much you’ll make per hour when you get paid for writing. Exact costs vary, but you can make between $3 and $15 per article in many cases. The more you write, the faster you’ll get and the more articles you can write per day. That, of course, equates to more income for you!

When you get paid writing, you don’t have to worry about being jobless. Consider this as your new job. You are your own boss. Your home is your place of business, and you can report for work whenever you feel like it.

If you’re a single parent, college graduate or unemployed spouse, you can make money writing and give yourself some financial freedom. Who knows, you might like your new writing position so much you never want to look for another job again!

Did You Lose Your Job? Get Paid For Writing and Get Out of the Unemployment Slump

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Losing your job is one of the most painful experiences you’ll ever have. For some, losing a job ranks up there with getting in a car accident. It’s traumatic, it’s stressful and it takes a long time to find a new job and recoup your lost income. If you have dependents reliant upon you for their food, shelter, clothing and entertainment, being jobless is even more difficult. The good news is, you can get paid for writing while you look for another job.

Paid writing opportunities are more abundant than you might realize. The online world is much different than brick and mortar businesses. Where business establishments are laying off workers and cutting pay, online publishers are always hiring content producers and freelance writers by the hundreds.

Even if you don’t have previous writing experience, you can get paid for writing. Some companies pay you to write articles on virtually any topic you desire. You don’t have to be an expert in any field – knowing a little bit about something is enough to get paid for writing about it and telling other people how to do it.

Get paid to write and supplement your income with several hundred dollars a month or more. Some freelance writers, like myself, make more than $1500 per month writing (no joke!) and that’s only a part-time figure. Think of how much you could make working full time as a freelance writer! If you’re jobless and are sitting at home anyway, put your time to good use by writing for money.

Where should you look to get paid writing? For starters, never apply to write for a company that makes you pay to apply. These are outright scams. Reputable companies offer 100 percent free applications.

You might be wondering how much you’ll make per hour when you get paid for writing. Exact costs vary, but you can make between $3 and $15 per article in many cases. The more you write, the faster you’ll get and the more articles you can write per day. That, of course, equates to more income for you!

When you get paid writing, you don’t have to worry about being jobless. Consider this as your new job. You are your own boss. Your home is your place of business, and you can report for work whenever you feel like it.

If you’re a single parent, college graduate or unemployed spouse, you can make money writing and give yourself some financial freedom. Who knows, you might like your new writing position so much you never want to look for another job again!

3 Reasons You Should Get a College Degree

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Are you at a fork in the road, thinking whether continuing education is right for you? Will the cost in time and money outweigh the benefits?

Having researched the benefits of a college degree from a logical and statistical standpoint, here are three reasons why you should get a college degree, instead of skimping on this milestone:

1. Higher Paying Salary– the inevitable question of how much more earnings a college degree will get you, can be answered in U.S. Census Bureau Statistics – college grads make an average of approximately $20,000 more per year compared to non-college grads. That adds up to at least one million dollars over a 50-year time frame, which can be useful for retirement. That far exceeds the initial investment for tuition.

2. More Job Opportunities– Employers value employees with college degrees, not only because it’s a piece of paper that marks your credentials. A degree also signifies that you met a challenge, and overcame it. As workplaces are greeted with a number of decision making processes, college graduates are usually more equipped to solve them responsibly. In addition, it’s estimated that college graduates are 60% more likely to be hired than someone with a high school diploma alone, as according to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, the employment status of the civilian population 25 years and over by educational attainment for March 2012 are as follows:

  • There’s a 9.3% unemployment rate for high school graduates with no college degree.
  • Compare that to 4.3% for college graduates.

These statistics offer insight into who gets hired mainly and first.

3. Perks – People gravitate to partners with a similar backgrounds. With a higher salary, college graduates are less likely to be stressed or anxious when compared to their non-graduate counterparts. Studies also show that children of college graduates perform better in academics, whether this is due to financial stability or an emphasis on education. Furthermore, personal benefits include total compensation at work for fringe benefits for healthcare, dental and more.

A college degree boils down to having a competitive advantage in life. Consider the earning gap, the hiring percentage, and how you would critically analyze through trained thoughts.

If you’re now college-bound and are thinking of ways to fund your dream, look into grants, financial aid, or colleges that offer pay-as-you-go monthly payment plans. College certifications offer a gateway to a better future, as far as we can see in the present.

Thoughtful Tips to Clear PMP(R) Certification Exam

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In this fast-paced world, to be at the top in the field of Project Management, Project Management Professional (PMP®) Certification is a crucial one. PMP Certification portrays you as an enthusiastic and a committed professional.

Here are some tips to pass your PMP Exam on the first go.

  • To begin with the preparation, you need to first prepare a study plan. Planning does not mean that you got to spend your entire time in preparing for the exam. You need to plan it well in such a way that you do not get bored of preparing rather you find it interesting.
  • Try to spare at least 2 hours a day for the preparation. Having breaks in-between is very essential that it helps your mind to freshen up and have full focus.
  • Know the latest version of Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®) as the version changes from time to time. Be attentive of the project management concepts and also you must stay updated in PMBOK guide.
  • PMP Exam and PMBOK are based on the ideal project organization. Don’t memorize the PMBOK, if you memorize the PMBOK guide you are not able to implement your project physically. You have to explore and appliance each method in your development, look into other projects tend to be happening in your environments.
  • Choose the right institute to train you on all the Project Management concepts and help you get over with the fear.
  • Make sure if your training center trains you on all the 47 processes of the Project Management.
  • Practice as many mock tests as possible which help you to make yourself clear in the concepts. Preparing full-length mock tests that makes way for completing the test on time.
  • Always be focused and motivated while preparing your exam and to be confident in what you have learnt.

The most important point among the above tips is that you should take much care in choosing the training institute. Because, it is the training institute that will help you follow the above points.

PMI guideline is that you are supposed to undergo an assured period of training by a certified institute before taking up the PMP Exam. School of PM is one of the Project Management Institute approved Registered Education Providers which helps you to clear the PMP Exam and accelerate in your career.

Thus, plan well before the PMP Exam, choose the right training institute, prepare well and pass the PMP Exam in the first try.

When Should You Start Potty Training Your Puppy?

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Potty training your puppy immediately after you bring them home, is the best way to ensure success. Typically, between the age of 3 to 3 1/2 weeks is the right time to begin working on puppy potty training due to the increase in mobility, and they begin to use the bathroom on their own without stimulation from the mother, but it’s not usually something a breeder will work on so it will be up to you.

If you are lucky enough to get a puppy from a breeder who did begin the training with your puppy, then finishing the job will be a much simpler endeavor. If you start training them when they are very young, they become aware that their fluids are disliked. Because of this dislike, they won’t want to pee or poop where they sleep or in their immediate living space, which makes it easier to train them.

Unfortunately, this early potty training is not that common among puppies. Part of this could be that owners don’t typically bring a puppy home until they are around 6 to 8 weeks of age. If the breeder was not concerned about training the puppies, your new addition may have developed bad habits and not realize that their fluids are unwanted, making them harder to potty train. Your potty training of your new puppy will go much smoother if your new puppy has had even the smallest amount of training.

Basically, you should start with the potty training the moment you arrive home with your new pup. Of course being in a new environment can be intimidating to a new puppy, and you don’t want to frighten them by reacting harshly if they potty in an unacceptable area, so it’s best to show them right from the start teaching them the place that is acceptable for them to go potty. Training them in this manner will serve two purposes.

First, it is clear from the beginning that there are designated areas for using the bathroom. Like children, puppies need repetition in order to grasp such concepts. Also, if you simply permit your new puppy to go anywhere then you are reinforcing bad habits and unwanted behavior. Of course this will then turn into a number of other issues that you will have to deal with down the road.

Teaching a puppy where not to go right from the start is without a doubt the best tactic for potty training, stopping any bad behavior right off the rip will help enforce the correct places for them to do their business. To avoid confusion, use the same approach throughout the potty training process. In order to train dogs, you but be consistent and repetitive. After you have chosen a potty training method, continue using that same method throughout the training process.

The potty training process can take a good bit of time, and much of this depends on how many bad behaviors he or she may already have, and whether or not the puppy was worked with before you brought it home. This is the reason it is imperative to begin training your puppy as soon as you can. By doing this, you should have a much less difficult time with potty training your puppies, and hopefully complete this task in a shorter amount of time.

Career Counselling

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According to the recently published government report on Feb 5 2009, ‘Ontario in the Creative Age’, we are moving away from an economy based on assembly lines and hard labour to one that values people’s creativity, especially analytical and social intelligence skills. With 80% of our population currently employed in the service industry there is a huge demand for people who are able to make good decisions and have the capability to understand other people and to work in team settings. How are you going to fit in and remain viable in this changing marketplace?

One-on-one and workshop career counselling services are available to address the full scope of career development from self-assessment, through goal setting to implementation of a career plan and beyond. Career counselling entails setting up a meeting with a counsellor or becoming a member of a group or workshop to look at where you are at this point in your career and where you want to be. In addition, to exploring goals and objectives, career counselling will look at the individual’s skills, abilities and interests.

Once the basics are established the career counselling coach will develop a resume to better reflect the next step in the career path. The next step for career counselling will be to assess the individual’s strengths and weaknesses and, working together, establish key action words to describe a picture of the prospective employee. In what is often referred to as The 60 Second Sell, good career counselling will train the candidate to describe their attributes in a complete and concise manner. We all know how important networking is to our careers and businesses these days and fresh opportunities can be few and far between. The 60 Second Sell or Elevator Pitch is a term for quickly selling your best features or what you have to offer in 60 seconds or less. Career counselling will train you to create and use this tool most effectively.

Preparation is fundamental to the objectives of career counselling and you will be shown the important steps to achieving this very important goal. You will be taken through the process of knowing who your market is, finding out all about the next step and exactly what that position entails, building confidence through self-knowledge and learning how to promote yourself. The more you prepare for an interview, the more knowledge that you have about a company, the job posted and yourself – the more likely you will be the Key Candidate.

Another key area that is of primary focus in career counselling is that of ‘transferable skills’. In today’s challenging job market where people are looking for critical thinking and the ability to make decisions there are the skills gathered throughout your career that are essential in moving forward after down-sizing and re-entering the workforce. Career success will no longer just be based on title and resume, it will require thinking outside the box and being able to show with conviction that it should be you. Consider career counselling as a way to sell your skills and promote yourself in a job interview.

Should You Do a Technical Analysis Course?

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If you are performing well in the stock market then you are part of a small number. If you are one of the larger number who aren’t doing so well or you would like to improve you results, then I think you should look at technical analysis and perhaps do a technical analysis course.

These days there are lots of technical analysis courses available to you and you need to decide which is the right one for you. There are a few things that you need to consider. The first is what the course covers, the second is what the course costs and the final thing is how it will be delivered.

Do you have the time commitment to do the course? If yes, then do to have to commitment to follow it through afterwards. There is no point in doing a technical analysis course and then not implement the techniques. You will be surprised with how many people do that.

A lot of people think that doing any course is a good idea. This is not so and you need to think about what you are going to get out of it and more importantly, how much you will get out relative to the cost.

How much do you think you will earn after the course? I don’t know the figure that you just thought of but you will probably earn less than that. This is not to say that you shouldn’t do a technical analysis course, you just need to be realistic. Work out how much extra you think you would make in a year and compare that to the course price.

A classroom based technical analysis course will be expensive. There is no getting away from that. A cheaper way of doing it would be to find a book or even a DVD about it. That should give you the basics.

If you decide that doing a course is right for you then be prepared to put the work in. All the best traders do so why should you be any different. If you put the work in then you should see some results.

Misconceptions Some Doctors Have About Coaching

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Many doctors don’t really understand what Coaching is, what it can enable them to achieve and how quickly it can make a difference.

There is also the belief in  medical culture that you have to deal with challenges yourself and working with a coach  might be regarded as a sign of failure.  Quite the reverse in fact many doctors who decide a coach might help are amazed at how quickly they can turn things around.

Here are some of the myths surrounding coaching in many doctors’ minds and the correct facts.

  • Coaches will tell you what to do

A good coach won’t tell you what to do because coaching is about helping you find your own solutions.

Coaches  offer you tools and tricks to make it possible for you to find the answer for yourself.

Coaching is not prescriptive:  as a result of their challenging questions you will gain insights into your situation and find the way forward.

  • Coaching is the same as therapy or counseling

Coaching is different is solution focused,  works well with people who are motivated and  willing to try different approaches.

Therapy or counseling is more suitable for people with mental health problems or those reacting to sudden traumatic changes such as bereavement or relationship break-up  and need crisis management.

  • Coaching is just a few phone calls

Interaction between coach and client often takes place on the phone. Phone coaching is very useful for busy doctors because there  is no need to spend time traveling.

Clients are asked to prepare for their calls and let the coach know how they want to use the time. After the call they will need to think about what was discussed and then take  whatever actions were decided on.

Coaching encourages you to take action and achieve what you want quickly.

  • Coaches don’t understand a doctor’s life

You may or may not consider a vital part of coaching is that your coach understands your medical lifestyle.  On the other hand some doctors would prefer to work with a non-medical coach.

  • Coaching is too expensive

That depends on what  it would be worth to you to sort  out your challenges. Like any service you can find coaches who charge rock bottom prices and some who are sky high.

Some  charge  somewhere in the middle! Remember you are not just paying for the phone calls. You are paying for years of training  in Coaching and life skills.

You have a choice just as you have when you decide where to have your holiday or which seat to sit in the theatre.